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Pistachio tree ranch standoff suspect indicted by grand jury

Daily News Report
Published 7:27 p.m. MT July 15, 2017

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Kaleb J. Scroggins talks to his defense attorney on June 22 during a motions hearing in 12th Judicial District Court. Judge Jerry H. Ritter Jr. ruled in favor of the state to hold Scroggins without bail until his trial.(Photo: Peter Dindinger/Daily News)Buy Photo

ALAMOGORDO – An Otero County grand jury has indicted a 21-year-old Alamogordo man on 17 felony counts and one misdemeanor count in connection with the June 18 standoff at McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch, according to a 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office press release.

In the release 12th Judicial District Attorney John P. Sugg wrote that Kaleb J. Scroggins was indicted by the grand jury on one count each of third-degree felony aggravated battery, felony knowingly leaving the scene of an accident, abuse of a child, attempt to commit kidnapping, and criminal damage to property over $1,000; one count each of fourth-degree felony aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, unlawful carrying of a firearm in a licensed liquor establishment, breaking and entering, tampering with evidence, and attempt to commit aggravated battery; three counts each of third-degree felony aggravated assault upon a peace officer, and four counts each of fourth-degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Scroggins is also charged with one count of misdemeanor larceny over $250, according to the release.

Scroggins faces up to 63 1/2 years in prison if he is convicted on all of his 17 felony charges and one misdemeanor charge.

Prosecutors had previously filed a motion for pretrial detention to hold Scroggins without bond pending his trial.

A 12th Judicial District Court judge ruled on June 22 that Scroggins is be jailed at the Otero County Detention Center on a no-bond hold pending his trial on the charges connected to the June 18 incident.

In the release Sugg wrote Scroggins allegedly shot a 23-year-old man in the 700 block of South Canyon Road around 4 a.m. June 18.

When police made contact with Scroggins, Scroggins allegedly fled from police then crashed into another vehicle, Sugg stated in the release.

He wrote following the crash, Scroggins allegedly exchanged gunfire with police then Scroggins fled the accident scene on foot and entered McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch, 7320 U.S. Highway 54/70 just north of Alamogordo.

Scroggins remained inside the business for several hours before Scroggins ultimately surrendered to police, Sugg wrote in the release.

Scroggins was also scheduled to appear for a jury trial on unrelated and separate drug and domestic violence charges before 12th Judicial District Court Judge Jerry H. Ritter Jr. Friday but Scroggins changed his plea instead of going to trial.

According to the release, Scroggins elected to change his plea from not guilty to no contest to one count each of fourth-degree felony possession of a controlled substance and one count of misdemeanor battery against a household member.

In the release, Sugg wrote Judge Ritter sentenced Scroggins to 1 1/2 years for the controlled substance charge and 1 year for the misdemeanor charge plus enhanced Scroggins’ sentence by an additional year for being a habitual offender.